Fluid seal



All@ 4, 1953 c. H. BERNER 2,647,773

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A118. 4 19753 c. H. BERNE-R 2,647,773

FLUID SEAL Filed oct. 1e, 194s 2 sheets-sheet 2 MII 2@ l E3 VN//4 NVENTOR. E' Cdr- //er/rez I BY I Patented Aug. 4, 1953 FLUID SEAL Carl H. Berner, Highland Park, Mich., assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application October 16, 1948, Serial N o. 54,907

1 claim. l

This invention relates to fluid seals and more particularly to an improved seal adapted to be used in conjunction with a fluid coupling.

This application is a continuation-in-part of an application, SerialNo. 5,545, led on January 31, 1948, and abandoned on October 16, 1948.

The principal'object of the invention is to provide an improved seal for a housing having an opening and a shaft concentrically mounted for rotation therein relative to the housing and more particularly to provide predetermined fluid sealing characteristics and pressure blow-off characteristics ina seal having a minimum number of components which may be vvproduced with a marked reduction in cost over seals currently employed.

U. S. Patent No. 2,264,004 which issued in 1941 to Patterson et al. illustrates la typical-sealing apparatus currently used in fluid couplings for motor vehicles. It is an object of this invention to reduce thecost of such a seal by eliminating many of the components therein. For example the Sylphon bellows and silver sold-ered joints illustrated in Patent No.'2,264,004 are eliminated. In addition, the construction of the ring 36 illustrated in this patent is materially simplied. This ring must b'e provided with two perfectly machined faces to contact both the flanger 18 of the couplingand thewear ringy 33 of the seal. In

the construction to be described herein'only one face of the corresponding;I ring, vnamelytheface' which engages thel shaft ange, must 'be ma-` chined withsuch'accuracy.' l 4, L,

`It is an additional object of the invention to utilize a rubber-like substance, preferably silicon rubber, in a' seal designed to operateat relatively high temperatures. Rubber-like substances have been used as sealing components in seals for re- .I

frigeration apparatus for example, but such seals are not exposed to temperatures in the range of the temperatures attained inthe operation of a fluid coupling whichunder conditionsof extreme slip may reach 400 to 500 F. Y

It is a further object of the inventionto provide a fluid `coupling seal which does not present the problem of high frequency vibration of a Sylphon bellows. Such vibration often produces anobjectionable squealing noise. Heretofore,

additional vibrationI dampening devices have been -incorporated in the fluid coupling seal at added.

expense in an effort to overcome this noise.

It is an additional objectvof the invention to i provide a fluid coupling seal having pressure ref lief means associated therewith to permit fluid to blow off when the temperatureand `pressure (Cl. 28B-11.14)

within the coupling exceedsafe operating condiconstruct the related sealing components that:

51 although a rubber-like substance is used to produce a seal this substance is not required to con` tact a part having material rotation relative toI the rubber-like substance.

Further objects and advantages of the present.'

invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being hadvto the accompanying drawing, in which preferred forms of the present invention are shown: 1 l

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a uid coupling shown partly in section and embodying one form of my invention; 'I

Fig. 2 is an enlargement ofthat'portion of:

Fig. 1 designated by the arc II; l Fig. 3 is a section of a portion ofthe sealin apparatus taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a modified form of my invention; Fig. 5 is an elevation of a iluidrcoupling shown partly in section and embodying a modified seal;

Fig.`6 is an enlargement of thatportionfof" Fig. 5 designated by the arc VI; and

Fig. 7 is a section of a portion of the sealingV apparatus taken on the line I''I of Fig. 6.

y In Fig. 1 a plurality of bolts I0 are arranged in spaced circular relation and adapted to be secured to the crankshaft (not shown) of a motor vehicle. The bolts I0 are suitably threaded in a flange I2 secured as by welding to` a housing I5 which carries the .impeller I4 of A: a fluid coupling generally designated by the letter A. This end of the fiuid coupling which is adapted to be secured to the engine crankshaftwill herein be referred to as the forward portion of the coupling. The coupling A comprises Aa runner I6 carried for rotation relativeto the impeller by a hollow shaft I8. is secured to a flange 20 of rivets 22. A

Hollow shaft I 8 is supported at its forward end vby an anti-friction thrust bearing 24 .and carries the driving element 26 of a friction clutch (noty shown) at its rear end. A suitable bearing 28 is usually provided within the hollow shaft I8 toA receive a driven shaft (not shown) which norjmally is associated with the driven portion of a clutch.

The housing I5 is provided with arear casing l portion 30 which completely encloses the runner I 6. The interior of the coupling is normallyf zlled with oil or .other fluid to about .80% .ofits The runner I6 the shaft I8 by capacity and this fluid is circulated by a plurality of vanes 32 carried by the impeller I4. The runner IB is also provided with a plurality of vanes 34. The vanes 32 and 34 provide various uid circulating passages through which the fluid is forced when the impeller I4 is rotated by the vehicle engine thereby driving the runner in a manner well known to the art.

Due to the fact that the speeds of the impeller and runner vary because of the inherent slip therebetween a fluid-tight seal must be provided`r between the housing 3!! of the impeller and the hollow shaft I8. at 36 in Fig. l and at lill] in Fig. 5'.v In thefor-m of the invention illustratedinlig.: 2 it comprises l a sleeve 38 threaded at 4Q for engagement with mating threads formed in housing 30 at 42V. A gasket 44 is preferably located between sleeve 3B and housing 30. tion 46 which extends coa-Xialli7 of shaft i8.

The-flange 2li-of the shaft Itis provided with This seal is generally designated The sleeve 38 has a reduced Vpor.-

a flat surface 48 which is machined to close tol-V 56 provided in carbon ring 50 to prevent rotationof thecarbonrng withtheilange 2li-of shaft I 8,*relative to sleeve 38,

A retainer ring 58 surrounds the shaft I3 and is positioned in close proximity to the carbonring 50. The retainer ring '.58 may .beprovided with any one ofa number of peripheral surfaces adapted to receivea ringt preferablyhaving a circular cross section.=. The ring 60 is. preferably formed of silicone rubber which is incompressible and particularly adaptedto .withstand high temperatures. An .incompressible substance is desirablebecause'its volume-cannot be changed so that when it is deformed by the application of. pressure .it is `forced intob engagement with the internal .surface of :portion 46 yof sleeve 38. The ring has. been illustrated herein as having a circumferential recess` t2. provided adjacent its forward edge@` The recess 62 is adapted-to receive thering (ill which thereby surrounds aportiont of retainer ring 58 and engages bothv the carbon rngi'll and the reduced portion 4E of the sleeve 38-to provide fluid seals at Vthese points. The-ring 60 'must be sodimensioned that its overall diameter is suicient to engage the internal surface of the reduced portion 46 of sleeve .33 with a radially directedv force. In additionl the diameter of a section'thereof is suiliciently great to Aprevent retainer ring- 58 fromv vengaging carbon" ring "'56 so that the seal preventing the escape of iluid *from between thecarbonrring 5U and retainer ring 5B is produced by the engagement of these rings with the-ring 6B; The rings vSil-and 58 preferably have externaly diameters -suiiciently-large to come in' close contact*- withthe vinternal surface ofv sleeve 3B to 'prevent extrusionof rubber'therebetween if the silicone vrubber'tends-to flow at ex'- tremelyhigh temperatures. For the same reason portionl 54 "of ring IEB is extended 'forward to come in close proximity with ring 50. (Fig. 2) bears against lthe rearorright handv 1.(in

Figxz) surf ace of .the retainer ringf and against f a'thnust washer-.68 located in a groove .19 providedy in thesleeve 38. The spring-B6 functions `toforce A coil spring Gli4 the retainer ring 58 against the ring 60 which in turn is forced against the carbon ring 50 thereby causing surfaces 48 and 52 to be engaged with suihcient pressure to prevent leakage of uid and to provide a seal between the ring 60 and each of the other rings. The fact that ring 6U is incompressible assures that the pressure exerted by spring B6 will remain constant oven after continued usage. If ring 6D lwere formed of a compressible material, such as felt, it would reduce involume after usage and this would further extend spring 6B and change the spring rate thereof.

Duri-ng periods of...fvehicle acceleration and at `othertirnes when the speeds of the impeller and runner .varyconsiclerably the temperature of the fluid rises and under conditions of extreme slip vmai/*reach #lOOtoY 500 F. The pressure of the trapped air in the coupling rises correspondingly. It is therefore necessary for the seal 36 to be of such construction that it provides a safetyblow-off for the escape of fluidv when the temperature and pressure of the fluid and air Within the coupling exceed-safe operatingconditions. The seal'illustrated-in'Fig. 2 is adapted to permit the escape of lduid vwhen the pressure-within the coupling reaches `a predetermined value. When the pressure is suiiiciently high Vwithin the coupling the fluid acts against face 52'ofr the'carbon ring 50 'to move the carbon ring 50,'the ring 60 and the retainer ring dit to the rear or right in Figqz by overcoming spring t.` This produces a space between surfaces 4B and 152whi'ch is sufficiently largetoperm'it fluid to'pass therethrough and travel between'the shaft I8 and 4the collar 3S tofescape from the coupling.

In Fig. 4 a modified form of the invention' is illustra-todi In this 'formof the invention the separate sleeve-38 iseliminated and the Vhousing l Sllfof the rimpellerisprovided with-.an integral sleeveportion 'I2 which is formed. therein preferably by a `deep drawing process. Thesleeve portion -'I2 of the housing Btlv is-provided with the key54 formerly described as being located on the extended portion 46 of 'sleeve38. In other respects the-sealing apparatus illustrated in Fig. fl is Similar to that illustrated in Fig. Zand for purposes .of brevity'the partswill not be again describedy andthe numerals 4`used in Fig. 2 to designate the partshave been applied tothe corresponding components in Fig. 4.. The sleeve portion 12 of housing 3|l-servesthe same functional purpose as that provided by the extended portion 46 of sleeve 38 and is provided with the groove 'I0 previously referredato as receiving Athethrust col- 1ar68.- If desired, either the col1ar'38 .of Fig. 2 or the sleeve portion .12 of Fig. 4-may be provided with aninternal diameter sufficiently small to come in close proximity to .spring 66. This serves toA prevent vibration of spring ...B6 and `thereby' eliminates a source of .noise or squeal.` The sleeve portion I2 of Fig. 4 has .been illustrated as being constructed in this manner.

t A modified 'form of the invention is illustrated 1n Figs..5, 6 and 7. In view of the fact that the modification relates to the seal and thatthe other fluid coupling components.. are substantially; identical to those illustrated and Vdescribed with lreference to'Fig. 1 `the description of the coupling will not be duplicated. It should fur-` therbe recognized that the form-of the invention illustrated in'Fig. 6 mayjbe associated with a housing having a'separate Sleeve `as' illustrated 1n Figs. 2 'and 6er it maybe associated Vwith a housingprovide'd with van integral sleeve portion Whichiis' formed 'therein'by a. deep drawn l, essancinustratedin Fig. 4. g p 0C Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 it will be seen that a sleeve |02 is threaded at 64 for engagement with mating threads formed in housing 30 at E66. A gasket |03 is preferably located between sleeve |02 and housing 30. The sleeve has a portion which extends coaXially of a shaft H2 which corresponds to the shaft i3 of Figs. 1 through 4. The hollow shaft i l2 carries the driving element ||4 of a friction clutch. The driving element ||4 is keyed to the shaft H2 at I6 and provided with a flat surface l i8 which is machined to close tolerances to form a sealing surface. The surface ||8 faces in a direction opposite to the direction in which fluid would normally flow through the sleeve |02. A ring E26, preferably formed of carbon, surrounds the shaft H2 and has a surface |22 which is also flat and machined to a high degree of accuracy to form a sealing surface adapted to Contact the surface H6 to provide a fluid seal. The sleeve |62 is provided with a key |24 adapted to cooperate with a keyvvay E26 provided in carbon ring 20 to prevent rotation of the carbon ring |26 relative to sleeve M32.

A retainer ring 23 surrounds the shaft E l2 and is positioned in close proximity to the carbon ring |20. The retainer ring 23 may be provided with any one of a number of surfaces adapted to receive a ring |30 having a circular cross section. The ring |26 is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 as provided with a sloping surface 13|. A ring |30 corresponding to the ring 60 of Figs. 1,'2 and 4 is provided and preferably formed of silicone rubber. The ring |33 engages both the carbon ring |20 and the portion |10 of sleeve |02 to pro vide fluid seals at these points. The ring E like ring 60, must be so dimensioned that overall diameter is sufficiently large to engage the interna] surface of sleeve i 62 with radially directed forces. In addition, the diameter of a section thereof is sufficiently great to pre-vent retainer ring |28 from engaging carbon ring i220 as was explained with reference to ring 60. The rings |20 and |28, like rings 56 and 56, preferably have external diameters sufficiently large to come in close contact With the internal surface of sleeve |02 to prevent extrusion of the rubber therebetween. A coil spring |32 bears against the forward or left hand (in Fig. 6) surface of the re tainer ring |23 and against a flange |34 formed at the forward end (left end in Fig. 6) of sleeve |02. The spring y|32 corresponds to the. spring 66 of Fig. 2 and functions to force the retainer ring |28 against the ring |30 which in turn is forced against the carbon ring |20 thereby causing surfaces H9 and |22 to be engaged with sufcient pressure to prevent leakage of Huid and to provide a seal between the ring |30 and ring |20.

In certain applications such as providing a seal for the shaft of a refrigerant compressor it is desirable to have any pressure generated Within the housing tend to increase the effectiveness of the seal. The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. and 6 is particularly adapted to accomplish this purpose. In addition, the assembly of the seal illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is facilitated by the location of the seal which is near the entrant portion of sleeve |02.

I claim:

Apparatus for sealing fluid within a fluid couplingl housing having a tubular wall portion defining an opening and a rotary shaft extending therethrough and provided with a radially eX- tending sealing surface, said apparatus comprising a carbon ring circurnscribing said shaft and provided with a peripheral portion abutting the inner surface of said tubular portion, said carbon ring having a sealing surface abutting the sealing surface provided on said shaft and a radially extending second surface located on the side of said carbon ring remote from said sealing surface, mechanical locking means operable to prevent rotation of said carbon ring relative to said housing, a retaining ring circumscrbing said shaft and provided with a recess in the forward edge thereof and a peripheral portion abutting the inner surface of said tubular portion, a deformable and incompressible rubber-like third ring having a circular cross section. located in said recess and a spring circumscribing said shaft, reacting against said housing and urging said retaining ring against said third ring, said third ring against said carbon ring and the sealing surface of said carbon ring against the sealing surface of said shaft, said retaining ring having a second portion engaging the internal periphery of said third ring and extending into close proximity to the second surface of said carbon ring so that the tubular Wall of the housing, the re taining ring and the carbon ring cooperate to substantially completely confine said third ring and retain said third ring against now thereof between said retainingr ring and said tubular wall portion and between said second portion of said retaining ring and said carbon ring when high temperatures and nuid pressures are applied to the third ring during operation of the iiuid coupling and the high temperature softens the third ring.

CARL H. BERNER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,342,131 Mycock June 1, 1920 1,528,334 Hurd Mar. 3, 1925 2,215,034 Gorman Sept. 17, 1940 2,408,314 Jacobsen Sept. 24, 1946 2,503,086 Albright Apr. 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,816 Great Britain of 1906 266,479 Great Britain of 1927 379,210 Great Britain of 1932 461,446 Germany of 1928 461,861 Great Britain of 1937 

